Door fastener



F. S. ULLOM DOOR FASTENER Sept. 8, 1931.

Filed Aug. 20. 1929 INVENTOR Y HWI/wr ULL 0M V Q I l ATTORNEY atentecl Sept. 1931 UNITED STATES FRANK S. ULLOM, OF BENTON, WASHINGTON DOOR FASTENER Application tiled August 20, 1929. Serial No. 387,209.

This invention relates to improvements in door fasteners and more particularly to fasteners, or latches of a spring tension character which are especiallyl desirable for screen doors or the lilre whose framework is not, as a rule, suiliciently rigid to insure a tight closure when held by the ordinary hook latch. 1

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a latch device for screen doors embodying a spring that connects certain parts of the device and which is of a character and arrangement adapted to place it under tension when the device hooked so as to draw the door to a tightly closed position and to retain it there.`

It is also an object of the invention to provide means in connection with the latch member whereby it may be released from locked position by a person Aoutside the door.

A still further object is to provide a device of the character above stated that is relatively inexpensive, Vwhich is simple in construction, easy to apply, easy to operate,

and which will eiiiciently and veffectively serve its purpose.

In accomplishing these objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- 'Y Y Figure 1 is a perspective view of a door latch embodying the present invention as applied to a door; the latch being'shown in locked position with a part of the latch sleeve brolren away forv better illustration.l

through the door and which is revolubly contained within a mounting bushing 6 of sleeve-like form that is fixed in the door by screws 7. i

The shaft is prevented from shifting lengthwise within the mounting bushing by means of an encircling shoulder 8 which bears against the inner end of the bushing 5 and a nut 9 that is fixed about its inner end to engage with'the outer end of the bushing. The inner end of the tubular shaft 5 is closed by means of an end wall 10, and a knob 11 is fixed in the outer end of the tube to serve as a means whereby it may be rotated from the outside of the door to release the latch, as will presently be described.

' Slidably mounted on the inner end portion of the tubular shaft 5, is an extension sleeve 12.' This is connected to the shaft 5 by means of a pin 13 which extends through the inner end portion of the sleeve and through slots 14-14 which are formed lengthwise within the shaft 5. This connection provides that the sleeve 12 Vmay slide inwardly and outwardly along the shaft a limited distance but will be rotated therewith. A coil compression spring 15 is contained within the inner end of the-shaft 5 and this bears against the end wall 10 and against the pin 13 in such manner as to urge the sleeve 12 inwardly to the position shown in Figure 3.v However, the sleeve may bedrawn outwardly against the pressure of the spring to the position as shown in Figure 2.

At the outer end of the sleeve 12, is the latch member 18. This is provided at its inner end with an eyelet 19 vthrough which across pin 20 extends; the pin being fixed within the end of the sleeve. At its outer end, the latch member 18 is provided with a lateral bend 21, of U-shaped form, and this is adapted to project within the loop or bend of a clip 22 that is fixed to the door casing 2. The clip 22, as shown best in Figure` 1, consists of a'pmetal plate that is bent in a U-shaped form, with laterally turned feet 22m at the ends of its leg portions adapted toV receive screws 23 for hold# Alon Cab

ing it securely in place. lVhen the latch piece 18 is locked within the clip, the lateral bend 2l extends downwardly through the loop of the clip and the alined, straight portions at the opposite side of the lateral bend seat within notches .Q5-25 that are cut downwardly within the top edges of the clip; the end portion 18a of the latch eX- ending somewhat beyond the clip to serve as a handle member whereby the latch may be released from the clip.

Assuming the device to be so constructed, and applied to a door in the manner illustrated, it would be used as follows: lVhen a ierson enters through the doorway and draws the door closed after him, he may fasten the door in a tightly closed position by grasping the end portion 18a of the latch and drawing it inwardly to place the spring l5 under compression; the lateral portion 2l of the latch being` projected downwardly within the loop of the clip, as shown in Figure l, so that the lateral portion engages with the clip to retain the connection. lf it is desired to release the latch by a person inside the door, this may be done by pulling upwardly on the latch end i802 so as to unseat the latch from the clip. lf it is desired to release the latch by a. person outside the door, this may be done by rotating the knob at the end of the tubular shaft o so as to thereby rotate the shaft and the` extension sleeve l2 and this. through the connection aiforded by the pin 20, rotates the latch to swing the laterally bent portion upwardly and inwardly to the dotted line position, as shown in Figure l, at which the latch member is permitted to slip through the notches of the clip and thereby releases the connection.

Devices of this character have been found to be especially desirable for use on doors whose framework is not sufficiently rigid to insure a tight connection throughout their length, for the reason that the spring at all times draws the door tightly into closed position which automatically takes up any slack that may occur by reason of wear or varping. Besides holding the door tightly in position, it serves a lock for preventing the door opening and this may be released from either the insiue or the outside of the door.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new therein and desire to secure by LcttersPatent, is:

l. A door fastener comprising a supporting shaft adapted to be mounted within a door, sleeve slidably mounted on the inner end portion of the shaft, a latch member pivotally mounted at the outer end of the sleeve, a clip adapted to be fixed to a door casing to receive the latch and a spring acting against the shaft and sleeve and adapted to be placed under tension and to thereby draw the door tightly against the casing tazas?? incident to the application of the latch to the clip.

2. The. combination with a door and its ,asing, of a fastener comprising a tubular shaft revolubly mounted in the door with a turning means at its outer end, a sleeve slidebly lengthwise on said inner end portion but having no turning movement thereon, a spring associated with the shaft and sleeve to yieldably retain the latter at its inner position on the shaft, a latch member txed to the inner end of the sleeve and a clip fastened to the door casing to receive the latch wnen the sleeve is drawn out against the spring pressure; said latch being' oesigned to be released from the clip by turning the shaft.

l. The combination with a door and its easing, a bushing mounted in the door, a tubular shaft revoluble in the bushing; said tubular shaft being closed at its inner end and having a knob at its outer end whereby it may be rotated, and said shaft having slots in its inner end portion lengthwise t; reoi", a sleeve slidable on the shaft and ha ving pins extended through its opposite ends, one of lsaid pins being extended through the slots of the tubular shaft, a coil spring within the tubular shaft bearing against the closed end of the shaft and the pin that extends through the shaft, a latch pivotally mounted on the pin at the outer end of the sleeve, a clip fastened to the door casing to receive the latch to fasten the door and to place the spring under tension; said latch being releasable from the clip by rotation of the shaft by means of the knob.

Signed at llacoma, lVashington, this 3rd day of August, 1929.

FRANK S. ULLOM. 

